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Even With No Suspension for Owens, Goodell Still Increasing Penalties for On-Field Misdeeds

Atlanta Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall called for the league to suspend Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens for spitting in Hall's face during Saturday night's game at the Georgia Dome.

It didn't happen. On Monday, the NFL instead fined Owens $35,000.

But even if he didn't suspend Owens, first-year commissioner Roger Goodell continues to increase the penalties for on-field misconduct by players. Owens's fine was twice that of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who was fined $17,000 by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue for spitting at Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman during last season's playoffs.

Goodell also exceeded precedents earlier this season when he suspended Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for five games without pay for kicking Cowboys center Andre Gurode during an October game, and when he fined Falcons quarterback Michael Vick $10,000 (and got Vick to agree to contribute another $10,000 to charity) for directing an obscene gesture at fans following a game last month.

Comments

T.O. IS T.O. AND THIS IS TO BE EXPECTED FOR HIS MOUTH IS ALWAYS THE PROBLEM TALKING SPITING OR SWOLLOWING PILLS WHO IS HE HURTING BUT T.O. SO I SAY IGNORE HIM AND LET HIM PLAY AND HE WILL SLOWLY GO AWAY LIKE HIS TALENT IS GOING (FROM A COWBOY FAN FROM 40 YEAR'S BACK )